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Thanks to the Yorkshire Branch for this information: Lancaster University will host a full day conference on Richard III on Saturday 6 December. Dr Christopher Tinmouth is one of the speakers and Philippa Gregory will be in conversation about her play Richard, MyRichard. Richard III Lord of the North & Dramatizing Richard III, Saturday 6…
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I have written recently about Jo Harkin’s new book, The Pretender, (https://murreyandblue.co.uk/2025/05/05/the-pretender-takes-the-same-old-attitude-to-richard-iii/) which tells the story of Lambert Simnel, who claimed to be Edward, Earl of Warwick, for whom the Yorkists fought (and lost) the Battle of Stoke Field in 1487. You can read about the earl here https://www.englishmonarchs.co.uk/plantagenet_25.html. And about Lambert Simnel here https://richardiii.net/faqs/richard-and-his-world/aftermath/lambert-simnel-and-the-king-from-dublin/…
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An international group of scientists, including Prof. Turi King of Leicester University, has investigated the dental plaque (calculus) of King Richard III and concluded that it was basically the same as both other contemporary remains examined (including those from different social levels), and also modern populations! This is their conclusion: The dental calculus of King…
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Joanne Larner: Please would you provide a short introduction for those who don’t know you. Andrew Jamieson: My name is Andrew Jamieson and for over 40 years I have been a fully trained and qualified painter of heraldry, calligrapher and traditional manuscript illuminator. In 2023 His Majesty the King asked me to design and paint…
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Dunstan was born around 910 in Somerset, and, as a boy, studied under Irish monks at Glastonbury. He showed early promise in terms of both scholarship and handicrafts, and at a young age became a priest. Over a long career – he died in Canterbury in 988 in his late 70s – Dunstan served as…
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On Saturday afternoon we were treated to a fantastically interesting talk by Professor Caroline Wilkinson, she who had created the reconstruction of Richard’s head. It was the Isolde Wigram Memorial Lecture and she touched on the reconstruction but concentrated on the A Voice for Richard project, which she participated in. She described all the detailed…
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Many Ricardians know that there are just two churches in the world dedicated to St Alkelda, one is in Middleham and the other in Giggleswick, but very few are aware of a mysterious stained glass in the latter. The whole matter started with a parish fair. Parishioners from both churches were looking for items to…
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There’s a lovely website where you can remember your deceased loved ones, called Forever Missed. You can light a virtual candle, leave a virtual flower or a note. If anyone would like to remember Richard today, on his birthday, here is the link to Richard’s page: https://www.forevermissed.com/findmemorial/?q=Richard+Plantagenet+ Go to the home page (https://www.forevermissed.com) to create…
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I took a trip out to Kelmscott Manor, the home of noted medievalist, scholar and artist William Morris. In the little church of St George, standing near the Manor’s carpark, there was a plethora of interesting medieval features, ranging from Norman columns, to a medieval stained glass panel of St George, interesting carved faces, and…
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Another of Richard’s Scandinavian ancestors is King Olav II (Saint Olav) of Norway. Here is his story. Saint Olav/Olaf (c. 995 – 29 July 1030), was King of Norway from 1015 to 1028. He was canonised at Nidaros (Trondheim) by Bishop Grimketel, one year after his death in the Battle of Stiklestad on 29 July 1030.…
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